KUSHITE-EGYPTIAN PHARAOH SHABAKA (25TH DYNASTY EGYPT 🇪🇬)

Sphinx head of Shabaka, on display at the Egyptian Museum, Cairo

By: Leon Kwasi Kuntuo-Asare

ORIGINS

Shabaka (also spelled Shabako) was a Kushite/Nubian King (Qore), and the 3rd pharaoh of the 25th Dynasty of Egypt. He inherited the African throne from his uncle, Pharaoh Shebitku. He assumed the throne name of Pepi II Neferkare, a Sixth Dynasty pharaoh. Shabaka’s reigned lasted from 705 to 690 BC.

HIS REIGN AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS

During his time on the Nioltic throne, Shabaka not only consolidated the Kushite royal family’s control over Egypt, down from Nubia (modern-day Sudan and Southern Egypt), up to the Delta Region in Northern Egypt. He would make the city of Thebes the capital of his united North East African empire. Under his authority, Egypt oversaw a massive amount of new construction of building, monuments and other infrastructure, especially in his new capital. Shabaka also, erected a pink granite statue of himself wearing the Twin Crowns of Egypt in the Karmak Temple complex. During his time as pharaoh, Shabaka was successful in maintaining Egypt’s sovereignty from powerful foreign empires like the Neo-Assyrian Empire.

DEATH AND LEGACY

It is believed that pharaoh Shabaka died after serving 15 years on the unified Kushite-Kemetic throne. He was buried in the pyramid at El-Kurru in modern-day Sudan.His nephew Taharqa would inherit his African throne.